Astros Call Up Top Prospect

The Houston Astros are set to call up top prospect George Springer. Despite reports that the ‘Stros were waiting until at least May to delay his arbitration clock, Houston needs his bat to help a lineup that is hitting just .185 through the first 14 games of the season.

The significance of this move on you, the Upstate New Yorker?

Once Springer makes his debut, he will become the 30^th former Tri-City ValleyCat to make the major leagues. He played in eight games for Tri-City in 2011, after being drafted No. 11 overall out of the University of Connecticut that year.

MLB all-star Jose Altuve played for Tri-City in 2009. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

He will join Matt Albers (first ValleyCat to reach the majors), Hunter Pence, Ben Zobrist and Jose Altuve as notable big-leaguers to have come through Tri-City.

Springer was ranked as the Astros No. 2 prospect heading into this season by Baseball America. He is listed as the 18th-ranked prospect in baseball for 2014.

He was slashing .353/.459/.647 in 13 games at AAA Oklahoma City.

Check out the ValleyCats website for a full listing of former ValleyCat players in the majors.